Electrical Safety Considerations at ATLAS

For onsite emergencies, call 911 on the internal phones
(or 252-1911 on cell phones)

Electricity will probably present the greatest hazard potential of your visit to Argonne.  Argonne and ATLAS have very specific requirements concerning working on or near electrical equipment.

•  This generally means that you cannot work on a piece of equipment if the cover is off and current carrying conductors or components at 50V or greater are exposed.  The preferred way to do such work is to unplug the equipment first.  However, even after you have unplugged a piece of equipment, you must be sure there is no stored energy in it.  Any capacitors must be drained before you can begin working on the equipment.

• If it is absolutely necessary to do work on equipment that includes exposure to voltages above 50V, contact the ATLAS User Liaison ([email protected]) or the Physics Division Safety Officer (Tom Mullen, [email protected] - (630) 252-2879).  They will arrainge for a qualified electrical worker to perform the task for you.

 

Electrical Equipment

Non-commercial equipment, including modified commercially manufactured equipment, must have appropriate engineered safeguards and must also be reported (e.g., as part or your experimental safety assessment) to the ATLAS User Liaison in advance and made available for inspection, testing, and certification by ANL prior to use.

 

Safe Work Practices

• Extension cords - Do not run them on the floor.  They will pose a trip hazard.  A preferred method is to string them overhead (at least 7 feet off the floor)
• Do not string extension cords together - this is a forbidden practice and could cause overheating of the cords.
• Make sure all the cords on your equipment are in good condition - not frayed or damaged.  
• If you see any uninsulated, exposed wiring, report this to your supervisor, Tom Mullen or the ATLAS User Liaison.